The federal government has decided to make registration mandatory for medical students going abroad for studies.
The registration will be compulsory for students going abroad for MBBS and BDS studies, the sources said that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) will register students going abroad.
No medical student of Pakistan nwill be allowed to go abroad without PMDC registration. The registration process will be facilitated through the PMDC website.
The decision aims to ensure the protection of Pakistani medical students going abroad and to facilitate their admission to recognized foreign medical colleges. In 2024, several incidents of violence against Pakistani students in Kyrgyzstan were reported, highlighting the need for greater oversight and protection.
The registration will also help ensure that students receive quality education abroad. Currently, thousands of Pakistani students are studying in foreign medical colleges, particularly in China, Cuba, and Central Asian countries.
Earlier, the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulation, and Coordination emphasised the need for transparency, fairness, and equity in the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT).
